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The reasons farmers choose to dock lamb tails to certain lengths, or leave them intact

Abstract

Compared to a survey carried out in 2005, New Zealand farmers appear to be docking fewer lamb tails flush (6% vs. 22%) and
docking a greater number of lamb tails at 4-7 cm length (32% vs. 16%). The main reasons for docking were to minimize fly strike
risk, reduce accumulation of dags and keep the crutching costs down. Farmers who docked lamb tails to a shorter length (3-4
cm) gave significantly (P<0.05) more importance to minimizing fly-strike, reducing the likelihood of dags and reducing the cost
of crutching than any other reason. Farmers who docked lamb tails at a longer length (4-7 cm) gave significantly (P<0.05) more
importance to meeting the processor requirements, minimizing euthanasia from uterine prolapse and minimizing fly-strike risk
than any other reason. When farm performance characteristics, that may influence decisions relating to tail docking practices, were
prioritised by farmers, preferences for minimizing deaths from fly-strike, improving weaning weight and making more money
from the processor were greater than having fewer dag events, less euthanasia from rectal prolapses and less stress for the lamb at
docking. These preferences did not differ among farmers that dock tails at different lengths or leave them intact.

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For over seventy years the New Zealand Society of Animal Production has played an important role as a forum fostering research in all areas of animal production including production systems, nutrition, meat science, animal welfare, wool science, animal breeding and genetics.